Carolyn Kellogg reads everything, knows everyone, and blogs for the Los Angeles Times. Seems impossible, but it’s all true. Very generously, she allowed me to write up a few words for the “Jacket Copy” summer reading segment. I was supposed to pick a book I liked, and hustle it, while hustling my own book. Of course, I managed to screw up the assignment, but Carolyn published it anyway.

I apologize here in advance, but there was a slight amendment to piece as published in the LA Times. The thesis now reads:

“Which brings me to the two types of schmucks. 1) The kind that cares what other people think. 2) The kind that doesn't.”

It used to read:

“Which brings me to the two types of assholes. 1) The kind that cares what other people think. 2) The kind that doesn't.”

So throughout, asshole to schmuck. Family paper. I should have done as Carolyn said, and written sonnets.

One other little amendment. “Shit” to “Poop.” Not that that matters. What’s interesting about that other horrible word is that it’s not just the word that’s a problem. It’s evidently the “concept.” So I couldn’t just say “kiester” or “tukas,” or “arse,” as I suggested. We had to go totally family paper.